Airbags comprising hingedly affixed non-inflatable support members
First Claim
1. An airbag comprising a body portion, a non-inflatable support member having a proximal end and a distal end, and a tether having a support-member-end and an airbag-end, wherein:
- the proximal end of the non-inflatable support member is hingedly affixed to the body portion of the airbag; and
the support-member-end of the tether is affixed to the distal end of the non-inflatable support member and the airbag-end of the tether is affixed to the body portion of the airbag, thereby tethering the distal end of the non-inflatable support member to the airbag, wherein;
when the airbag is in a pre-deployment state, the non-inflatable support member is folded over the body portion in a pre-deployment position, in which the distal end of the non-inflatable support member does not extend beyond a perimeter of the airbag; and
as the airbag fills with gas when deployed, the airbag expands and creates tension in the tether, which is translated to the distal end of the non-inflatable support member, thereby pulling the non-inflatable support member to a deployed position that extends beyond the perimeter of the airbag.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Airbags including hingedly affixed non-inflatable support members and vehicles including such airbags are disclosed. An airbag includes a body portion, a non-inflatable support member having a proximal end and a distal end, and a tether having a support-member-end and an airbag-end. The proximal end of the non-inflatable support member is hingedly affixed to the body portion of the airbag. The support-member-end of the tether is affixed to the distal end of the non-inflatable support member and the airbag-end of the tether is affixed to the body portion of the airbag, thereby tethering the distal end of the non-inflatable support member to the airbag. When the airbag is in a pre-deployment state, the distal end of the non-inflatable support member does not extend beyond a perimeter of the airbag. The non-inflatable support member extends beyond the perimeter of the airbag in a deployed position.
22 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An airbag comprising a body portion, a non-inflatable support member having a proximal end and a distal end, and a tether having a support-member-end and an airbag-end, wherein:
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the proximal end of the non-inflatable support member is hingedly affixed to the body portion of the airbag; and the support-member-end of the tether is affixed to the distal end of the non-inflatable support member and the airbag-end of the tether is affixed to the body portion of the airbag, thereby tethering the distal end of the non-inflatable support member to the airbag, wherein; when the airbag is in a pre-deployment state, the non-inflatable support member is folded over the body portion in a pre-deployment position, in which the distal end of the non-inflatable support member does not extend beyond a perimeter of the airbag; and as the airbag fills with gas when deployed, the airbag expands and creates tension in the tether, which is translated to the distal end of the non-inflatable support member, thereby pulling the non-inflatable support member to a deployed position that extends beyond the perimeter of the airbag. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A vehicle comprising a passenger compartment and an airbag located within the passenger compartment, wherein the airbag comprises a body portion, a non-inflatable support member having a proximal end and a distal end, and a tether having a support-member-end and an airbag-end, wherein:
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the proximal end of the non-inflatable support member is hingedly affixed to the body portion of the airbag; and the support-member-end of the tether is affixed to the distal end of the non-inflatable support member and the airbag-end of the tether is affixed to the body portion of the airbag, thereby tethering the distal end of the non-inflatable support member to the airbag, wherein, when the airbag is in a pre-deployment state, the non-inflatable support member is folded over the body portion in a pre-deployment position, in which the distal end of the non-inflatable support member does not extend beyond a perimeter of the airbag; and as the airbag fills with gas when deployed, the deploying airbag creates tension in the tether, which is translated to the distal end of the non-inflatable support member, thereby pulling the non-inflatable support member to a deployed position that extends beyond the perimeter of the airbag and contacts an interior portion of the passenger compartment of the vehicle to support the deployed airbag. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An airbag comprising a body portion, a non-inflatable support member having a proximal end and a distal end, and a tether having a support-member-end and an airbag-end, wherein:
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the body portion includes an inflatable portion that inflates with gas when the airbag is deployed and a non-inflatable portion that does not inflate with gas when the airbag is deployed; the proximal end of the non-inflatable support member is hingedly affixed to the body portion of the airbag; and the support-member-end of the tether is affixed to the distal end of the non-inflatable support member and the airbag-end of the tether is affixed to the non-inflatable portion of the body portion of the airbag, thereby tethering the distal end of the non-inflatable support member to the airbag, wherein; when the airbag is in a pre-deployment state, the non-inflatable support member is folded over the body portion in a pre-deployment position, in which the distal end of the non-inflatable support member does not extend beyond a perimeter of the airbag; and as the airbag fills with gas when deployed, the deploying airbag creates tension in the tether, which is translated to the distal end of the non-inflatable support member, thereby pulling the non-inflatable support member to a deployed position that extends beyond the perimeter of the airbag. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification